I made reindeer shape dot cards to work on shape recognition as well as fine motor skills development. I printed them on cardstock paper but you can use regular paper if you like.

I set the dot cards out with a small container of paint and some q-tips. The children dip the q-tips in the paint and then fill in the blank dots on the shapes.

You can use markers or glue sequins on the blank dots if you did not want to use paint. I made both black and white as well as color patterns with two different styles of shape dots. You can download the patterns below.

reindeer shape fine motor dots

I wanted to share some of my favorite "Countdown To Christmas" activities that we have done in the past.  I have made the countdowns easy to make and the children enjoy keeping track of many days are left until Christmas.

Countdown to Christmas Mats:

Print either on regular or cardstock paper. Glue on to a sheet of colored cardstock paper.  Starting on December 1st cover up the number 25 on the mat.  Each day cover up another number (24, 23, 22, etc) to count down to Christmas.

You can download the countdown mats here.

Scissor Skills Christmas Countdown:

I made countdown that also work on scissor and fine motor skills.  The patterns can be printed on regular or cardstock paper and the children glue them together where indicated to form a long strip.  Each day they cut off a number from the bottom of the strip until it is Christmas.

You can grab the patterns here and see a video of this activity by clicking below:

Christmas Countdown Chain:

​For this countdown we cut red and green construction paper into strips and put a number on each one. We alternated the colors of each number link ... for example the first one was red and the next one was green and the third one was red etc.

Children glued together the ends of the first link (number one) and then laced the second link through and glued the ends together.  They continued until they had connected all 25 links.

We hung the chain up and each day a child was chosen to removed a link from the bottom of the chain which would the show how many days were left until Christmas.

You can grab the number circle patterns here and see a video by clicking below:

I made tree puzzles for number recognition and review. I printed the patterns on cardstock paper ... cut them out ...  laminated them and then cut along the dashed line to make two puzzle halves.  

In this activity children find the tree top and bottom with the same number and put them together to form a tree. I have included numbers 0-30.

As of 2022 this activity can be found in the member's section which is also where I have added tree letter puzzles.

I made ornament puzzles for letter recognition and review. I printed the patterns on cardstock paper and and cut them out. 

I then cut along the line on each ornament to make two halves and laminated all of the pieces. I mixed up the pieces and set them out for the children.

In this activity the children find the two halves with the same number and put them together to form the ornament.  Play continues until all numbers have been matched.

As of 2022 this activity can be found in the member's section which is also where I have added ornament letter puzzles.

I made a reindeer roll and cover mat for math and fine motor skills. I printed the patterns on cardstock paper and laminated them.

I set the mats out along with dice and buttons (pom poms and playdough work well too).  I have also made cover-up circles that you can print and laminate.

In this activity the children roll the dice and cover up the same number of blank circles on the reindeer mat.  Play continues until all circles have been covered.  Children can then roll the dice and remove the cover-ups.

As of 2022 this activity can be found in the member's section which is also where I have added a reindeer color match.

I made a holiday tree color match which is great for color recognition and review. I printed the patterns on cardstock paper ... cut them out and laminated them.

I separated the tree cards from the color circles and set them out in a basket. I also attached self adhesive magnets to the back of the circles to add a little weight to them so that they would not slide around on the tree cards.

​In this activity children pick a tree card and place the matching color circle in the blank circle on the tree.  Play continues until all colors have been matched.

As of 2022 this activity can be found in the member's section which is also where I have added holiday tree ten frames.